Hollyoaks-legende kondigt huwelijk aan na jaren samen – schokkende onthulling van trouwjurk
While Mercedes McQueen has walked down the aisle seven times, Jennifer Metcalfe is in no rush to get married to her new partner. But she already has a wedding dress in mind.
Jennifer Metcalfe is living a blissful romance with her new partner but marriage isn’t on her priority list – though she already know what she would wear on her big day. After nearly two decades in Hollyoaks as man-eating Mercedes McQueen, the 41-year-old star is set to appear in the BBC comedy-drama Just Act Normal, playing the high-maintenance ‘stepmum’ Candy. This marks Jennifer Metcalfe’s first TV role outside of Hollyoaks since 2002 and signifies a fresh chapter in her career.
The opportunity came at a serendipitous moment, as Jennifer was about to jet off to Mexico with her new beau. She recalls the experience: “I got the call on my way to Tulum, so I had the flight to learn it,” sharing the challenges of creating a self-tape with limited resources. “When you do a self-tape you want to look like the character and I only had beach bags and bikinis to work with! We did what we could. It wasn’t the best tape I’ve ever done, but I pulled it off and got the part!”.
Post-Hollyoaks life also sees Jennifer navigating new personal happiness. Following past relationships with Sylvain Longchambon from Dancing On Ice and Greg Lake from Geordie Shore, who is the father of her son Daye, seven, Jennifer is now dating someone outside the limelight.
While she remains tight-lipped about his identity, she openly expresses their joy together: “It’s good, it’s great, he makes me really happy,” she beams.
Now in her forties, Jennifer is embracing a fresh perspective on romance. She shared, “When you’re younger, in your twenties, you’re looking for a unicorn of a man and going, ‘Nah, that one’s not for me!’ Now I feel more at peace with where my life is at and it’s nice to share that with somebody.”
Still basking in the glow of new love, Jennifer isn’t hurrying down the aisle – a stark contrast to her Hollyoaks alter ego Mercedes, who’s no stranger to wedding bells with seven trips down the aisle.
Jennifer mused, “It’s not something I’ve ever seen on my path,” adding, “I’ve always wanted a child, and I have my little boy Daye, but I’ve never seen marriage in my plan. I’ve never dreamt of a big white wedding dress. I’ve had seven on Hollyoaks and if I ever did get married I’d wear black or gold or something completely different!”.
Her current beau may not be a TV industry insider, but he certainly impressed with his camera skills, helping Jennifer land an exciting new role. “We flew back to the good news a week later and it’s amazing to be involved in something different after all these years,” she beams.
Jennifer joins the cast alongside up-and-coming talents Akins Subair, Chenée Taylor, and Kaydrah Walker-Wilkie, who portray siblings with a dark secret. Jennifer steps into the role of Candy, the materialistic girlfriend of their laidback dad Leo, played by Ivanno Jeremiah. The series also stars big names like Romola Garai, Sam Buchanan, and Jamelia.
Jennifer Metcalfe, known for her fiery role as Mercedes in Hollyoaks, has dived into a new part playing Candy in ‘The Teacher’, and she’s having a blast. “She’s colder than Mercedes,” Jennifer chuckles.
“The siblings in it are going through massive difficulties and Candy just makes things worse. She likes the idea of having their dad to herself and doesn’t want to share him with his children. They irritate her. It’s a hostile relationship.”
Not only is Jennifer thrilled to work alongside some phenomenal up-and-coming stars, but she’s also besotted with her character’s wardrobe — so much so that she’s snagged some fabulous pieces!
“She dresses better than me,” she beams with laughter. “I got a fresh blow-dry every day and some sassy outfits and I took away half of them. I got some little gifts.”
Despite getting stuck into this deliciously dark new gig, there’s no shortage of drama on her home turf at Hollyoaks. The soap’s loyal audience has been on a rollercoaster with Mercedes, as she battles bowel cancer, facing everything from chemo sessions to life-changing surgeries.
“Mercedes getting cancer has shaken the audience, and me, as an actor,” Jennifer says. “I’ve had to dig deep and go to parts of myselfI’ve never really had to go before. It’s been challenging and rewarding, and has reached so many people and raised awareness.”
In her 19-year tenure on the soap, Mercedes has survived just about everything – from being shot and faking her death, to a kidnap ordeal during pregnancy. Yet, it’s the current bowel cancer plot that Jennifer finds most intense.
“Mercedes sashays around the village like she has nine lives,” Jennifer says and she reflects on how the storyline makes a powerful point: “It really brings home the fact that cancer can happen to anyone at any time. I’m glad they chose Mercedes to go through this because I have got a lot from it.”
Fans have been incredibly responsive, a testament to the impact of Mercedes’ journey. Having experienced the loss of her father Colin to bowel cancer at just 15, Jennifer is passionately involved and proud of sparking important health conversations.
